A new school TV drama filmed in Calderdale launches tomorrow night (Wednesday) on Channel 4.

Set in the fictional Yorkshire Mill town of Ackley Bridge the drama documents the merging of two comprehensive schools which brings a clash cultures for the largely divided white and Asian communities.

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Director Penny Woolcock said: “I think it’s so important to have dramas that reflect the fact that most people live in provincial towns far away from the metropolis.

“All the kids you see are from local schools. Kids even popped up in the art and costume departments.

TV drama Ackley Bridge

Speaking of how the filming went, she added: “Everyone was very welcoming. We didn’t have any aggro whatsoever, it was remarkable. I think it’s partly because we did the groundwork, we didn’t just show up. We went round and spoke to people and explained what was going on. And we'd get local people involved – for example, the street that Missy and Nas live on, a lot of the extras are the people who live on that street. That really changes how people feel about filming.”

The weekly six-part series promises to “explore the chaos, humour, camaraderie, pride, prejudice, conflict, romance and jealousies that define the school experience for teachers, pupils and parents alike.”

Tomorrow night’s marks the first day at the newly integrated school, Ackley Bridge College, and best friends and neighbours Missy and Nas are now attending the same school for the very first time. Nas’ more conservative school friends take against Missy. Nas sides with her school friends and Missy, fuelled by anger, decides to play dangerous liaisons.